Littler’s Dominance Draws Ultimate Praise
Dave Chisnall has declared Luke Littler to be the greatest darts player of all time, placing the 19-year-old world champion ahead of Phil Taylor. The assessment followed Littler’s second consecutive World Matchplay title last week, a victory secured with a record tournament average that left fellow professionals deeply impressed.
Littler himself has a similarly high opinion of his current form, suggesting he is the most dominant athlete in world sport during 2026. The world number one has already assembled an extraordinary collection of silverware this year, winning all six televised PDC majors to have been staged: the World Championship, Masters, UK Open, Premier League, World Cup of Darts, and the World Matchplay. His prize money on the PDC Order of Merit has now climbed beyond £3.1 million.
The teenager is now chasing an unprecedented clean sweep of all 11 major PDC tournaments in a single calendar year. His dominance has naturally made him a fixture at the top of the markets on the best darts betting sites UK for the remaining events. However, his path to a ‘Nuclear Slam’ faces a potential complication. Littler has so far opted to miss all 26 of the Players Championship events held in 2026, a decision which leaves his qualification for the Players Championship Finals in Minehead in a precarious position.
Veterans Reflect on a Life in Darts
While the sport’s focus remains fixed on its new star, two of the circuit’s most durable competitors have offered candid reflections on their long careers. James Wade, the current world number six, spoke of his deliberately solitary approach to the game. The 43-year-old admitted to keeping himself apart from fellow players, preferring to prepare for matches alone rather than engaging in the social side of the tour. Looking back, Wade conceded that he “probably robbed myself of what could have been better times away” by pursuing such a “lonesome way in darts.”
William O’Connor, 40, also looked back on his 16 years as a professional. The Limerick native acknowledged that his family always came before his darting ambitions. “I’ve never really given it everything I had,” O’Connor said, explaining that his wife and two children were always his priority, with darts serving as an additional source of income rather than his sole focus.
In Brief
- Cameron Menzies is embarking on a weight loss journey after a turbulent year. The Scot produced a superb performance to eliminate Luke Humphries from the World Matchplay but was forced to retire from his next match after just two legs when he fell ill on stage. The 37-year-old is now receiving support from the PDC and therapy to get back on track.
- On the Asian Tour, Ryuta Arihara has become only the second man in history to win three successive titles.
- Sixteen-year-old Archie Self continues to impress on the PDC Development Tour, with his form reportedly outstripping that of some PDC Tour Card holders.
- At the MODUS Super Series, debutant Beveridge has made a strong start by taking an early lead in Group A of the latest week’s action.
